PROGRESS: Cone Park's first winter deemed a success

On Dec. 21, after more than a decade of fundraising and planning by city staff and volunteers, the all-seasons park let the first members of the public venture down its tubing hill. The park's ice skating rink opened a few weeks later, in early February. 

In its opening six weeks, the park welcomed more than 10,000 visitors. The tubing hill, which accommodates 300, sold out several times. 

Parks and Recreation Director Matt Salvatore said while final numbers for the winter season have yet to come in, he believes attendance was at or above 20,000 when the tubing hill closed for the season on March 11 due to warm weather. 

"We were anticipating between 20,000 and 25,000, and we're right at the 20,000 mark," Salvatore said. "We think it will be even more next year." 

Positioned at 3800 Line Drive, near Lewis and Clark Park and the IBP Ice Center, the new park's main winter draws are the tubing hill and a 110-by-50-foot refrigerated ice skating rink.

A day lodge at the center of the park serves as the base of operations year-round, where park-goers can purchase tickets, rent skates or sip on cocoa and take in the scenery. During the summer months and during off-peak hours in the winter, it's also a rent-able venue for wedding receptions, birthday parties and other events.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, the park featured "Cosmic Tubing," unlimited rides down the tubing hill lit by an LED light show set to music.

With the arrival of warmer weather, the park will shift to its off-season uses. The skating rink will transition to a free splash pad, and park-goers can take walks or run along a two-mile trail loop. 

Salvatore said he expects the splash pad will open around Memorial Day. It will have the same hours as the rest of the city's splash pads: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Cone Park's namesake is the late philanthropist Ruth Cone, the wife of a prominent Sioux City cattle buyer, whose family in 1981 created a trust for the purpose of establishing a new city park. That has since grown to around $2.9 million, providing the lion's share of funding for the approximately $5 million recreation facility. The city also was awarded a $300,000 from the state's Vision Iowa program, which helps fund major tourist attractions.

Other donations totaled $1.3 million.

Salvatore said the first season presented an opportunity to learn how to operate and maintain the park's amenities. 

"There were lots of learning opportunities," he said. "We worked out the kinks and are ready to come back next year."